Storage bag

ABSTRACT

A storage bag includes first and second sidewalls of flexible, thermoplastic material that overlap and are joined to each other to provide an interior volume for receiving food items. The bag is adapted to be evacuated to help prevent spoliation of the food items. The bag includes a textured portion on an inner surface of at least one sidewall that is comprised of a plurality of pyramid shaped protrusions. To help retain liquids that may be included with the stored food items, the pyramid shaped protrusions are arranged in a substantially offset pattern. The protrusions may delineate on the inner surface substantially planar regions that are comprised of first larger areas and second smaller areas. During evacuation, liquids can pool together in and become retained by the larger areas while air can be directed through the second smaller areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Flexible plastic bags are widely used for a variety of purposes such asstoring food items, either temporarily in the case of packaging snacksor long term in the case of freezer storage. Plastic bags of this typetypically include one or more pliable sidewalls made of thermoplasticweb material such as polyethylene. The sidewalls are arranged to providean opening and an interior volume accessible through the opening. Toclose the opening, the bag may include interlocking closure stripsattached about the rim of the opening.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention provides an evacuable storage bag for receiving andstoring food items in an evacuated condition. During evacuation, airwill be directed through the interior volume to exit the bag.Additionally, as air exits the bag, the sidewalls will collapse againsteach other and against the stored food items.

To facilitate evacuation and remove liquids and juices from the exitingair flow, the bag is provided with a textured portion on an innersurface of the sidewall. The textured portion can include a plurality ofpyramid shaped protrusions or projections arranged in an offset patternand that project into the interior volume from other regions of theinner surface. The pyramid shaped protrusions can be substantiallyseparated from each other on the inner surface by the other regions ofthe inner surface. The base of each pyramid shaped protrusion may beoutlined or delineated by the planar regions. Because of the offsetarrangement, the planar regions are not of uniform shape and size butrather can be categorized into at least first regions that arerelatively large and open and second regions that are relatively smalland closed.

During evacuation, liquids and juices may pool into and may becometrapped in the larger first regions while the air itself can be directedthrough the smaller and narrower second regions. The liquids and juices,or at least a portion thereof, may be retained within the bag. Anadvantage of the storage bag is that it may assist in maintaining thehydration of stored food items. Another advantage is that it may preventcontamination of valve elements and/or evacuation devices. These andother advantages and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following drawings and detailed description of the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible plastic bag including a valveelement that can operate in conjunction with an evacuation device, theplastic bag having, as shown in cutaway, a textured portion on an innersurface of the sidewall.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the area indicated by circle A-A ofFIG. 1 illustrating in detail the textured portion including a pluralityof pyramid shaped protrusions arranged in an offset pattern.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to that of FIG. 2 illustratinganother embodiment of the textured portion including a plurality ofpyramid shaped protrusions arranged in a random pattern.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a flexible plasticbag having, as shown in cutaway, a textured portion on an inner surfaceof the sidewall, the plastic bag adapted for use with a counter topstyle evacuation device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating various techniques for manufacturinga bag including a textured portion that has a plurality of pyramidshaped protrusions.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a one-way valve element that canbe included with a plastic bag such as disclosed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the one-way valve element of FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view through the one-way valve element astaken along line B-B of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a one-way valveelement for attachment to a flexible plastic bag.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a one-way valveelement for attachment to a flexible plastic bag.

FIG. 11 is another embodiment of the textured portion.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is another embodiment of the textured portion.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is another embodiment of the textured portion.

FIG. 16 is another embodiment of the textured portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer tolike elements, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an evacuable storage bag100 that can be used for receiving and storing food items. The storagebag 100 includes a first sidewall 102 and an opposing second sidewall104 overlaying the first sidewall 102 to provide an interior or internalvolume 106. Accordingly, the first and second sidewall 102, 104 eachincludes a respective first inner surface 108 and an opposing secondinner surface 109. The first and second sidewalls 102, 104 can be madefrom flexible and/or pliable webs of thermoplastic material such as, forexample, polyethylene. The webs may be monolayer or multilayer filmsthat are typically used for food storage. Multilayer films may belaminations or coextrusions. Resins may include polyethylene includinghigh density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), andlinear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Other materials suitable formanufacturing sidewalls include nylon, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH),polypropylene (PP), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyester, ionomers ormetallized films. Examples of coextruded multilayer films suitable forthe manufacturing of storage bags include layered combinations such asHDPE/tie-layer/EVOH/tie-layer/LDPE or nylon/tie-layer/LDPE.

The first and second sidewalls 102, 104 are joined together along afirst side edge 110, a parallel second side edge 112, and a closedbottom edge 114 that extends perpendicularly between the first andsecond side edges. The edges of the first and second sidewalls 102, 104can be joined together by a heat sealing operation. To access theinternal volume 106, the portions of the first and second sidewalls 102,104 extending along an open top edge 116 remain un-joined. Due to thefour orthogonal edges, the flexible bag 100 has a generally rectangularshape. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, thebag can have any suitable shape resulting from any number andorientation of sidewalls and edges.

To close the open top edge 116 after food items have been inserted intothe bag 100, the bag can include a closure mechanism such as first andsecond interlocking fastening strips 120, 122. The fastening strips 120,122 can be made from extruded thermoplastic material and are joined tothe bag 100 proximate the open top edge 116. More specifically, thefirst fastening strip 120 can be joined to the inner surface 108 of thefirst sidewall 102 and the second fastening strip 122 can be joined tothe inner surface 109 of the second sidewall 104. The first and secondfastening strips can engage and release with each other to allow forrepeated opening and closing of the storage bag. To engage, thefastening strips can be aligned adjacent to each other and pressedtogether. To release the fastening strips, oppositely directed pullingforces can be applied to the first and second sidewalls proximate thetop edge. In other embodiments, it will be appreciated that variousother closure mechanisms can be used instead of or in combination withthe first and second fastening strips.

To evacuate air trapped in the flexible bag 100 after sealing the opentop edge 116, the bag includes a one-way valve element 130, variousexamples of which will be discussed further below, that is attached tothe first sidewall 102 and communicates with the internal volume 106.The one-way valve element 130 is capable of opening to allow entrappedair from the internal volume 106 to escape and closing to prevent theingress of environmental air into the interior volume. Communicationwith the internal volume 106 can be accomplished by disposing a holethrough the first sidewall 102 and then attaching the valve element 130over the hole. The valve element 130 can operate in conjunction with ahandheld evacuation device 132 that provides a suction force forwithdrawing air through the valve element.

To facilitate the evacuation of air from the storage bag, the storagebag 100 can include a textured portion 140 on the inner surface 108, 109of one or both of the first and second sidewalls 102, 104. The texturedportion 140 includes a plurality of raised protrusions 142 or peaks thatproject into the interior volume 106.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the protrusions 142 can be generally shapedas a pyramid, and though illustrated as such, the pyramid shapedprotrusion is not necessarily a right angle pyramid. Each pyramid shapedprotrusion 142 includes a square or rectangular base made of four baseedges 144 that are adjacent to otherwise planar regions 160 of the innersurface 109. The pyramid shaped protrusion 142 tapers from the baseedges 144 to an apex 146 or peak as the protrusion projects from theplanar regions 160. Moreover, the pyramid shaped protrusions 142 can bearranged in a pattern in which adjacent protrusions are generally offsetfrom each other. In other embodiments, the pyramid shaped protrusionsmay be truncated. In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, theprotrusions 842 are truncated. In this embodiment, the protrusion 842has a flat top portion 843. The truncated feature may be used asappropriate with any of the embodiments herein.

For example, presume the location of the open top and closed bottomedges are indicated by arrows 150 and the location of the first andsecond side edges is indicated by arrows 152. Given the exemplaryrectangular bag configuration, the arrows 150, 152 are orthogonal witheach other and, for reference, the direction indicated by arrows 150 canbe considered vertical while the direction indicated by arrows 152 canbe considered horizontal. Because of the offset pattern, the apexes 146of adjacent protrusions generally do not align in either the verticaldirection or in the horizontal direction. In fact, in the illustratedembodiment, the apexes 146 of adjacent protrusions generally align inthe direction indicated by arrow 154 that is oriented at an angle withrespect to the vertical and horizontal arrows 150, 152.

Between the pyramid shaped protrusions 142 the inner surface 109 of thesidewall 104 provides the otherwise substantially planar regions 160.The planar regions 160 are generally co-planar or parallel with oneanother. In the illustrated embodiment, the pyramid shaped protrusions142 are substantially separated from each other on the inner surface 109by the planar regions 160 such that the planar regions are generallycontiguous with one another. Hence, the base of each pyramid shapedprotrusion 142 including base edges 144 is outlined or delineated by theplanar regions 160 and the shape of the planar regions is provided bythe protrusions and their arrangement. In other embodiments, however,some overlap of the pyramid shaped protrusions may be permitted.

Because of the offset pattern of the pyramid shaped protrusions 142, theplanar regions 160 do not have a uniform shape and size. Instead, asillustrated, the planar regions 160 can include a first plurality ofrelative larger regions or areas 162 and a second plurality ofrelatively smaller regions or areas 164. The larger areas 162 arerelatively open or exposed and are typically located where adjacentpyramids are separated by large gaps or distances. The smaller areas 164are relatively closed in or congested and may take the form of narrowchannels located between closely proximate or tightly packed protrusions142. As an example, the ratio of the surface area of the larger areas162 to the surface area of the smaller areas 164, as measured in theaggregate, average, or one to one correspondence, can be on the order ofabout 5:1 to about 10:1.

Referring back to FIG. 1, during evacuation, air will be directedthrough the interior volume 106 to exit the storage bag 100. As the airis removed, the first and second sidewalls 102, 104 will collapseagainst and contact each other and against items within the interiorvolume. This may cause air to become trapped in other parts of theinterior volume 106 and unable to exit the bag 100 during evacuation. Toprevent or reduce these problems, the textured portion 140 provided bythe pyramid shaped protrusions 142 maintains at least a partialclearance between the bag sidewalls 102, 104 and between the sidewallsand any objects located in the bag. More specifically, referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, as the sidewalls 102, 104 collapse together the apexes146 of the protrusions 142 contact the sidewalls or stored items andthereby provide a standoff or spacer function between the planar regions160 of the inner surface 109 and the contacted sidewall or item. Thus,the distance between the planar region 160 and the apexes 146 acts as aclearance through which evacuating air can pass. The protrusions canhave a height in a first range of 0.003 inches (0.076 mm) to 0.025inches (0.635 mm), a second range of 0.005 inches (0.127 mm) to 0.015inches (0.381 mm), and a third range of 0.007 inches (0.178 mm) to 0.012inches (0.305 mm). In one embodiment, the protrusions can have a heightof about 0.010 inches (0.254 mm).

The protrusions 142 and areas 162, 164 may also provide an additionalfeature. When the user contacts the evacuation device 132 to the bag 100in order to remove the air from the bag, the downward pressure of thedevice on the bag sidewalls may cut off the flow of air to the device.The protrusions may provide a standoff for the downward pressure of thedevice. Thus, the protrusions may require a greater force or downwardpressure by the device before the flow of air is cut off.

The offset pattern of the pyramid shaped protrusions 142 provides anadditional utility of the texture portion 140. In many instances, fooditems such meats or fish that are stored in the interior volume containliquids or juices. To retain those liquids or juices in the bag duringevacuation, the first larger areas 162 and second smaller areas 164 ofthe planar region can cooperate to pool and trap the liquids in theinterior volume. Specifically, as the air is directed through theclearances provided by the planar regions 160, liquids entrained in theair or otherwise can gather or pool together within the larger areas 162while the evacuating air can continue through the narrower or smallerareas 164 to exit the bag. The entrances to the smaller areas 164 canalso block or impede the continued flow of the liquids gathered in thelarger areas 162. Thus, the offset pattern of the pyramid shapedprotrusions allows air to be evacuated from the bag while retainingliquids and juices and thus can improve the freshness and hydration ofthe food items while preventing contamination of an evacuation device.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. This embodiment may besimilar to FIG. 2 except that the areas 862, 864 between the protrusions842 may include a depression 872. In this embodiment, the depression 872may be a half sphere. In other embodiments, the depression may haveother shapes, such as, a rectangle, square, triangle, polygons,parallelogram, trapezoid, or annulus. The depression may allow forretention or pooling of the liquid and the depression may prevent liquidfrom entering the valve or the evacuation device. The depression may beused as appropriate with any of the embodiments herein.

The pyramid shaped protrusions need not always be rectangular or even ofthe same size and shape. Moreover, producing the offset arrangement ofthe protrusions need not be accomplished by patterning the protrusionson an angle with respect to the open top edge and side edges of thestorage bag. For example, referring to FIG. 3, there is illustratedanother embodiment of a textured portion 240 produced by a plurality ofpyramid shaped protrusions 242 projecting from the inner surface 209 ofa storage bag sidewall 204. In the illustrated embodiment, the pyramidshaped protrusions 242 are triangular in shape and include a base havingthree side edges 244 that are adjacent to otherwise smooth andsubstantially planar regions 260 of the inner surface 209. The pyramidshaped protrusions 242 project from the planar regions 260 and tapers toan apex 246. As in the prior embodiments, the pyramid shaped protrusionsneed not be geometrically right pyramids. The triangular shapedprotrusions may be used as appropriate with any of the embodimentsherein.

The offset pattern is accomplished by random placement or location ofthe pyramid shaped protrusions 242 on the inner surface 209. Because ofthe various sizes and random placement of the protrusions, the planarregions 260 have correspondingly varying shapes and sizes. Moreparticularly, the larger areas 262 and smaller areas 264 have randomshapes and surfaces areas, even with respect to each other. However, thetextured portion 240 including the larger and smaller areas 262, 264will generally function to facilitate air direction and retain liquidsand juices as described above. In a further variation, the randomplacement of the pyramid shaped protrusions 242 can be configured sothat the smaller areas 264 are concentrated toward the opening of thebag 200 while the larger areas 262 are concentrated toward the bottom.In one embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the random placement of the pyramidshaped protrusions 942 can be configured so that the smaller areas 964are concentrated toward the opening of the bag while the larger areas962 are concentrated toward the bottom of the bag. Concentrating thelarger and smaller areas in this manner acts to concentrate the retainedfluids and juices further away from an evacuation point of the bag. Thisfeature may be used as appropriate with any of the embodiments herein.

In other embodiments, the arrangement of the pyramid shaped protrusionscan be random in a localized area but can generally repeat over abroader area. Likewise, the protrusions can be a combination ofrectangular pyramids, triangular pyramids, and/or other shapes. In otherembodiments, the protrusions can have other shapes, such as, thecircular protrusions 1042 shown in FIG. 16. The circular protrusions maybe used as appropriate with any of the embodiments herein. Additionally,the textured portion of the protrusion shapes can be combined ondifferent storage bag sidewalls with other textured portions, such asthose described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0286808(U.S. application Ser. No. 10/880,784) herein incorporated by referencein its entirety.

The textured pattern having pyramid shaped protrusions can beincorporated in various different style plastic storage bags. Forexample, illustrated in FIG. 4 there is illustrated another embodimentof a plastic storage bag 300 having first and second pliable,thermoplastic sidewalls 302, 304 that are overlaid and joined togetherto provide an interior volume 306 for receiving items such as foodstuffs. Formed on the inner surface 309 of at least the second sidewall304 is a textured portion 340 having a plurality of projecting pyramidshaped protrusions 342 projecting into the interior volume 306 and whichare substantially separated from each other by substantially planarregions 360 of the inner surface. To seal and evacuate plastic bags 300of this particular style, a counter top evacuation device 332 of thetype illustrated in FIG. 4 can be used. The evacuation device 332includes a slot 334 into which the open top edge 316 of the plastic bag300 can be inserted. Air is then drawn from the interior volume 306through the open top edge 316 after which the device 332 can heat sealthe open top edge shut. Hence, storage bags of the present embodimentneed not include valve elements or interlocking fastening strips.

Referring to FIG. 5, to manufacture a bag having a textured portion ofany of the aforementioned styles, any number of various high speedmanufacturing processes can be employed. For example, the finished bag400 can be produced by initially unwinding in a machine directionindicated by arrow 402 a continuous web or sheet 404 of thermoplasticmaterial from a roll 406 of such material. To form the protrusions, theweb 404 can be passed through a pair of opposing rollers 410, 412 one ofwhich has a plurality of knobs that correspond to the pyramid shapedprotrusions. As the rollers 410, 412 rotate over the web 404, theprotrusions are embossed or coined into the thermoplastic material.

In another method, the protrusions can be placed on the web bydepositing moldable material onto the web 404 in a depositing step 420.For example, a depositing machine 422 suspended above the web 404 candeposit by squirting or by direct placement onto the web deposits ofliquefied or molten material that correlate to the pyramid shapedprotrusions. The material can solidify providing the pyramid shapes.Furthermore, the material can be the same or different than the materialcomprising the web. In further embodiments, the depositing machine 422can be moved perpendicularly with respect to the machine direction 402to provide the offset pattern of the protrusions. In a furtherembodiment, the textured portion can be initially provided on or formedinto a separate film or web 430 of thermoplastic material that isprovided on another roll 432. The second web 430 can be unwound from theroll and attached to the first web 404 by an attachment operation 434.

To finish the plastic bag, the web 404 can be run through a foldingoperation 440 that folds the web in half to provide the first and secondsidewalls. The side edges of the bag can be produced by an edgingmachine 442. Specifically, the edging machine 442 forms a seal 446across the web of folded material to form the side edges of the bag andcuts the web into individual bags. In other operations, a device 451 canattach the interlocking fastening strips 452, 454 and a device 455 canattach the valve elements 456.

In those embodiments of the flexible plastic bag that include a one-wayvalve element for evacuation, the particular valve element used can beselected from any various types of suitable one-way valve elements. Forexample, referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the one-way valve element 500for use with a storage bag of the foregoing type can include a rigidvalve body 510 that cooperates with a movable disk 512 to open and closethe valve element. The valve body 510 includes a circular flange portion514 extending between parallel first and second flange faces 520, 522.Concentric to the flange portion 514 and projecting from the secondflange face 522 is a circular boss portion 518 which terminates in aplanar boss face 524 that is parallel to the first and second flangefaces. The circular boss portion 518 is smaller in diameter than theflange portion 514 so that the outermost annular rim of the secondflange face 522 remains exposed. The valve body 510 can be made from anysuitable material such as a moldable thermoplastic material like nylon,HDPE, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polycarbonates (PC), and the like.

Disposed concentrically into the valve body 510 is a counter-bore 528.The counter-bore 528 extends from the first flange face 520 part waytowards the boss face 524. The counter-bore 528 defines a cylindricalbore wall 530. Because it extends only part way toward the boss face524, the counter-bore 528 may form within the valve body 510 a planarvalve seat 532. To establish fluid communication across the valve body510, there is disposed through the valve seat 532 at least one aperture534. In fact, in the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of apertures534 are arranged concentrically and spaced inwardly from the cylindricalbore wall 530.

To cooperatively accommodate the movable disk 512, the disk is insertedinto the counter-bore 528. Accordingly, the disk 512 is preferablysmaller in diameter than the counter-bore 528 and has a thickness asmeasured between a first disk face 540 and a second disk face 542 thatis substantially less than the length of the counter-bore 528 betweenthe first flange face 520 and the valve seat 532. To retain the disk 512within the counter-bore 528, there is formed proximate to the firstflange face 520 a plurality of radially inward extending fingers 544.The disk 512 can be made from any suitable material such as, forexample, a resilient elastomer.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the disk 512 within the counter-bore 528 ismoved adjacent to the fingers 544, the valve element 500 is in its openconfiguration allowing air to communicate between the first flange face520 and the boss face 524. However, when the disk 512 is adjacent thevalve seat 532 thereby covering the apertures 534, the valve element 500is in its closed configuration. To assist in sealing the disk 512 overthe apertures 534, a sealing liquid such as oil can be applied to thevalve seat 532. Furthermore, a foam or other resilient member may beplaced in the counter-bore 528 to provide a tight fit of the disk 512and the valve seat 532 in the closed position.

To attach the valve element 500 to the first sidewall, referring to FIG.8, an adhesive can be applied to the exposed annular rim portion of thesecond flange face 522. The valve element 500 can then be placedadjacent the exterior surface of the first sidewall with the bossportion 518 being received through the hole disposed into the sidewalland thereby pass into the internal volume. Of course, in otherembodiments, adhesive can be placed on other portions of the valveelement, such as the first flange face, prior to attachment to thesidewall.

In other embodiments, the one-way valve element can have a differentconstruction. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a flexible one-wayvalve element 610 can include a flexible, circular base layer 612 thatcooperates with a correspondingly circular shaped, resilient top layer614 to open and close the valve element. The top and bottom layers canbe made from any suitable material such as, for example, a flexiblethermoplastic film. Disposed through the center of the base layer 612 isan aperture 616, thus providing the base layer with an annular shape.The top layer 614 is placed over and adhered to the base layer 612 bytwo parallel strips of adhesive 618 that extend along either side of theaperture 616, thereby covering the aperture with the top layer andforming a channel. The base layer 612 is then adhered by a ring ofadhesive 620 to the flexible bag 600 so as to cover the hole 608disposed through the first sidewall 602.

When a pressure differential is applied across the valve element by, forexample, placing the nozzle of an evacuation device adjacent the firstsidewall 602 about the valve element, the top layer 614 can be partiallydisplaced from the base layer 612 thereby exposing the aperture 616. Airfrom the interior volume 606 can pass through the hole 608 and aperture616 and along the channel formed between the adhesive strips 618 wherethe removed air enters the evacuation device. When the suction forcegenerated by the evacuation device is removed, the resilient top layer614 will return to its prior configuration covering and sealing theaperture 616. The valve element 610 may also contain a viscous materialsuch as an oil, grease, or lubricant between the two layers in order toprevent air from reentering the bag. In an embodiment, base layer 612may also be a rigid sheet material.

Illustrated in FIG. 10 is another embodiment of the valve element 710that can be attached to the flexible plastic bag 700. The valve element710 is a rectangular piece of flexible thermoplastic film that includesa first end 712 and a second end 714. The valve element 710 is attachedto the first sidewall 702 so as to cover and seal a hole 708 disposedthrough the first sidewall. The valve element 710 can be attached to thesidewall 702 by patches of adhesive 718 placed on either side of thehole 708 so as to correspond to the first and second ends 712, 714. Whenthe nozzle attached to an evacuation device is placed adjacent the firstsidewall 702 about the valve element 710, air from the internal volume706 displaces the flexible valve element 710 so as to unseal the hole708. After evacuation of air from the internal volume 706, the valveelement 710 will again cover and seal the hole 708.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventor(s) for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventor(s) expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventor(s) intend for the invention to bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly,this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A flexible storage bag comprising: a first sidewall of thermoplasticmaterial; a second sidewall of thermoplastic material overlying andjoined to the first sidewall to provide an interior volume betweenopposing first and second inner surfaces of the respective first andsecond sidewalls; at least one inner surface including a texturedportion comprising a plurality of pyramid shaped protrusions projectinginto the interior volume, the pyramid shaped protrusions arranged in asubstantially offset pattern.
 2. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein theinner surface includes substantially planar regions located between thepyramid shaped protrusions.
 3. The storage bag of claim 2, wherein theplanar regions include first relatively larger areas and secondrelatively smaller areas.
 4. The storage bag of claim 3, wherein theratio of the surface area of each first larger area to the surface areaof each second smaller area is about 5:1 to 10:1.
 5. The storage bag ofclaim 3, wherein the first larger areas are generally square in outlineand the second smaller areas are generally rectangular in outline. 6.The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the pyramid shaped protrusions arearranged in a substantially random pattern on the inner surface.
 7. Thestorage bag of claim 2, wherein the planar regions are continuous withone another such that the pyramid shaped protrusions are substantiallyseparated from each other.
 8. The storage bag of claims 2, wherein thepyramid shaped protrusions project from the planar regions in a rangefrom 0.076 mm to 0.635 mm.
 9. The storage bag of claim 1, furthercomprising a one-way valve element attached to at least one sidewall andin communication with the interior volume.
 10. The storage bag of claim1, further comprising first and second interlocking fastening stripsattached respectively to the first and second inner surfaces.
 11. Thestorage bag of claim 1, further comprising a depression located betweenthe protrusions.
 12. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the spacingbetween protrusions near the top of the bag is less than the spacingbetween protrusions near the bottom of the bag.
 13. A method ofevacuating a storage bag comprising: (i) providing a bag including aflexible sidewall bounding an interior volume, an opening for accessingthe interior volume, and a textured portion included on an inner surfaceof the sidewall, the textured portion including a plurality of pyramidshaped protrusions projecting into the interior volume and arranged in asubstantially offset pattern; (ii) closing the opening; (iii) applyingan evacuation device to the storage bag for withdrawing air from theinterior volume; (iv) directing air from the interior volume between afirst plurality of relatively smaller areas located between the pyramidshaped protrusions; and (v) retaining at least some fluids initiallyretained in the air within a second plurality of relatively larger areaslocated between the pyramid shaped openings.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein the step of applying an evacuation device to the storage bagincludes the further step of interfacing the evacuation device to aone-way valve element attached to the sidewall and communicating withthe interior volume.
 15. A flexible storage bag comprising: a firstsidewall of thermoplastic material; a second sidewall of thermoplasticmaterial overlying and joined to the first sidewall to provide aninterior volume between opposing first and second inner surfaces of therespective first and second sidewalls; at least one inner surfaceincluding a textured portion comprising a plurality of protrusionsprojecting into the interior volume, the protrusions arranged in asubstantially offset pattern.
 16. The storage bag of claim 15, whereinthe protrusions have a circular base.